Steel connections

• Connection are needed to join : 

1. Beams , trusses , bracing to columns in structural frames ; 
2. members together in trusses 
3. Plates together to form built up members 
4. Columns to foundations 

• Connections between the different members of a steel frame can be classified as follows : 

1. Compression connections , in which the load is transmitted directly from one member to another & the connection serves mainly to fix the two parts together . 
2. Shear connections , in which the joint elements are stressed in shear . 
3. Tension connections , in which the joint elements are stressed in tension . 
4. Compression connections are the most economical , but where these are not suitalbe shear connections are preferable to tension connections which generally are adopted in special cases only . 
5. Connections are detailed so that fabrication is as simple as possible having regard to erection problems .